Griggs courier., 1887-07-22

ga, received relnfOrcementS the cap.
itulation Of the Army Of the Cumb,r-
land or the evacuation of Chattanooga
was only a question of time, for which
he could afford to wait. It is not very
easy for those living in plenty to realize
the horror and the sufferings that an
army in state of siege are called on
to endure. As the time passed, the
means of transportation of supplies be-
came more limited, the quantity of ra-
tions so small that at different times
during the seige the writer has Witness
ed men Of other commands, as we'll as
those OF his own, eat at one meal the
rations drawn to last them four days
time. Such are facts, and it was try
ing indeed to see men who had wiling
ly performed every duty assigned to
them-men who had breasted the iron
leaden hail of many hard fought bat
tle-literally starving. It is at such
times as those, as well as on the battle
field, that soldiers realize the stern
realities of war. But through all the
seige, with vigilant and crafty foe on
their front, amid the hundreds of starv-
ing and dying artillery horses, suffering
from insufficient clothing. while endur-
ing the pangs of hunger, not murmur
was heard. Officers and soldiers alike
were determined to Chattanooga until
they starved or reinforcements arrived.
The reinforcements that were need
ed and should have been forwarded to
General Rosecrans before the battle of
Chickamauga were now being sent for
ward. General Hooker, with the
Eleventh and Twelfth Army Corps,
commanded by Howard and Slocum,
arrived at Nashville, Tenn, early in
October, taking position along the
Nashville, and Chattanooga Railroad,
securing it from the raids of the rebel
cavalry, while large quantities Of sup
plies were being accumulated at Steven
son and Bridgeport ready to be for
waraed to the beleagured army at Chat
tanoga as soon as communication could
be opened. General Rosecrans had
found it impossible to supply his army
by wagon train over the mountains.
and had wisely concluded to utilize the
river as far as possible. The railroad
from Bridgeport to Chattanooga could
not be used until Bragg's force was
driven from Lookout Valley and noun
tain. The Tennessee river could be used
as far asKelly's Ferry, then by wag-
on some six or eight miles to Browns
Ferry across Moccasin Point, again
crossing the river at Chattanooga,
making the entire distance for supplies
to be hauled by wagons ten or twelve
miles. General Rosecrans, with his
chief engineer, was busily engaged on
the plans of this work, when the order
came relieving him from the command
of the Army and Department of the
Cumberland. At the same time was
receivd the order creating the ..Mili-
tary Division of the Mississippi, under
General Grant, and assigning General
George II. Thomas as the successor of
General Rosecrans. In complying with
this order General Rosecrans severed
his connection with the Army of the
Cumberland. And in bidding him fare
we'll can truthfully state tnat the love
and confidence of the Army of the
Cumberland went with him. What
Mcclellan was to the Army of the Po-
tomac Rosecrans was to the Army of
Cumberland. The new commander,
General Thomas, came notlike his pred
ecessor, stranger; he had been
identified with the Army of the Cum
berland from its organization, forming
its first division at Camp Dick Robin
son, Kentucky, in September, 1861. and
with which he gained his first
victory, defeating General Zollicoffer
on the 10th of January, 1862. at Mill
Springs, Kentucky. After the army
was divided into corps he commanded
the Fourteenth. the center of
the army, and upon his skill
and judgement every commander of
that army relied, while every soldier
of that army knew that in ..Pap
Thomas" as he was familiarly called,
he had a friend.
General Grant, upon assuming COM
mand of the military division of the
Mississippi, telegraphed General Thom-
as to hold Chattanooga at all hazards.
His reply was characteristic of the man:
I'VE will hold the town till we starve. ~
General Grant soon after arrived in
Chattanooga, and with Generals Thom-
as and Smith. the chief engineer of the
army, examined and approved the plan
of General Rosecrans for supplying the
army via Browns and Kclly's ferries
General Thomas received instructions
to execute the plan agreed upon.
General Hooker, with the Eleventh
Corps and one division of the Twelfth,
Geary's, had already been ordered to
Bridgeport, where they were Joined by
a d;viciom ~ tho Eo,,rfh CO,.na cono